Jeff Dantzler’s GA Southern vs. Georgia Preview

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Georgia and Georgia Southern square off Saturday night between the hedges, as the Bulldogs search for a third straight November victory and 6-0 lead in the all-time series. After a brutal October against a rugged schedule, the Bulldogs have won two straight, downing struggling Kentucky 27-3 and claiming the series lead over Auburn with a 20-13 win at Auburn.
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Still struggling on offense – a facemask penalty led to the Bulldogs lone touchdown in that facet – Georgia leaned on a tough defense and the top special teams performance of the season to defeat the Tigers. Making the smart plays was the key. Georgia cashed in on three Auburn turnovers, and that costly penalty. A key moment came on third-and-40 early in the fourth quarter with the game tied 10-10. Brendan Douglas ripped off a 20-yard run to vastly improve the field position. There are points in the game when a team can lose it but not win it. Douglas’s run swung the momentum back the Bulldogs way. Brice Ramsey then lofted a beautiful punt that rolled dead deep in Auburn territory. The Georgia defense then came up with a big three-and-out stop, one of four straight. Isaiah McKenzie, who scored Georgia’s lone offensive touchdown on a jet sweep keyed by a great Malcolm Mitchell block, raced back 53 yards to pay-dirt for his fourth career punt return score.
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Sitting at 7-3, the focus now turns to the most important trophy of the year – the state championship.
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It starts with the Eagles. Georgia Southern won at Troy to move to 7-2 on the year. They are hungry for what would be the most significant program in the history of the Eagles tremendous program.
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The Match-up
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Georgia Defensive Front vs. the Triple Option
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Once again the Eagles have a dynamic rushing attack, paced by running back Matt Breida and quarterback Kevin Ellison. Georgia Southern leads the nation in rushing; an especially impressive feat when considering that it’s just the program’s second season in Division 1-A (Football Bowl Subdivision). Through the years, the Eagles have boasted a slew of standouts at quarterback – Tracy’ Ham being the greatest – and running backs — Adrian Peterson the best – while mastering the “Hambone,” now flexbone at Tech and Navy, where it was installed by its creator Paul Johnson. The great Erk Russell, when Ham was early in his career in Statesboro, recognized what a talent he had in the two-time All-American and future Canadian Football League star.
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Russell wanted to maximize Ham’s abilities, run a two-minute style offense, and primarily keep the football on the ground… “Now go make it happen.” Johnson did. Russell bred Ham led Georgia Southern to the 1985 and 1986 national championships and one of the most lethal rushing attacks in history was born.
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It is an enormous part of their identity. It’s what Georgia Southern – minus the Brian Van Gorder year – does and has done.
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Georgia’s defense will be severely tested.
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A year ago, Tech, running the same basic offense, torched Georgia for 399 yards on the ground. The Bulldogs lost a heart-breaker. That Georgia team had a potent offense.
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This one does not.
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Georgia Southern will chalk up yardage and chew the clock.
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It is essential for the Bulldogs defensive line – particularly the interior – to consistently get a push. The defensive front must minimize the effectiveness of Breida, who is having a tremendous season, and then force the option with Ellison on the pitch. Ellison must also be consistently hit.
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Back in 2012, the Eagles limited All-American Jarvis Jones’s effectiveness, and the Bulldogs star linebacker was effectively caught “in between” on most of Georgia Southern’s running plays.
For Jordan Jenkins, Leonard Floyd, Davin Bellamy and Lorenzo Carter, they have to delicately walk the tightrope of forcing the action against the option while staying home and effectively playing assignment defense.
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This one and the next one, these are two games where Georgia’s young freshmen who have gotten action at linebacker and along the defensive line, can make a major impact in terms of depth and fresh legs.
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Georgia’s defense must get the Eagles “behind the chains,” forcing the Eagles into some second-and-eights and third-and- sevens. If it is second-and-three consistently, the Bulldogs are in trouble. Getting consistent penetration could also lead Georgia Southern to some holding and illegal blocking penalties.
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The first encounter with the triple option for second year coordinator Jeremy Pruitt’s defense turned out in devastation. This week and what’s next, to win that state championship so much of it falls on the defense.
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The History
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Georgia and Georgia Southern met for the second time to open the 2000 season on a hot and muggy evening between the hedges. The Bulldogs were coached by Jim Donnan, the future College Football Hall of Famer who was quite familiar with the Eagles from his glory days at Marshall. The Eagles and Thundering Herd were two of the great dynasties of Division 1-AA, along with Youngstown State, which ‘was coached by Jim Tressel. The coach at Georgia Southern from 1997-2001 was Paul Johnson.
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The biggest star coming in was the heralded Peterson. He led Georgia Southern to a pair of 1-AA national championships and was the recipient of the Walter Payton Award, the division’s version of the Heisman Trophy. He finished in the top three in the voting in all four of his seasons. Peterson shattered the record book, rushing for 9,145 yards and 111 touchdowns in 57 career games, an average of 160.4 per contest. The FCS Award for National Offensive Player of the Year is now named for Peterson.
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Georgia was charged with trying to slow this All-American stalwart down.
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Donnan’s defense boasted a plethora of talent, especially along a talented defensive front that featured future first round National Football League picks Richard Seymour, Marcus Stroud and Charles Grant.
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The Bulldogs defense also had an outstanding corps of linebackers. But Georgia, that linebacking unit in particular, was dealt a severe blow, as future All-American Boss Bailey injured his knee on the very first play of the season covering the opening kickoff.
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It was a brutal blow.
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With Peterson’s running, the Eagles were chewing up yard-age and clock, but couldn’t get on the scoreboard in a fast-moving first half.
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The Bulldogs posted a touchdown in the first and second quarters to lead 14-0 at intermission. Georgia tacked on a third quarter safety and headed to the final period with a 16-0 lead.
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Georgia posted a pair of fourth quarter scores and the Eagles would get on the board late, with the Bulldogs winning by a final of 29-7. Peterson gained 152 yards on 27 carries. The Bulldogs defense managed to keep him out of the end zone.
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Quincy Carter was Georgia’s offensive star, throwing for two touchdowns and running for a pair of scores.
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Make sure to check out Bulldawg Illustrated’s latest print edition: Two Damn Good Dogs, digital issue available for free online. CLICK HERE.
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